Today we’d like to introduce you to Evelyn Espinoza.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’ve always been drawing and painting. Primarily, I work in oil and watercolor. I like to think of my style being between Realism and Impressionism. My grandfather was an artist painting in oils. I think much of my early artistic drive was spurred on by him. I filled my parents’ home with my drawings and paintings; none of them exceptional in skill, but the drive to create was constant. I’m pretty good at copying; I’d copy no end of Disney characters for school friends. I always enjoy art at school, and seemed to excel in it, according to my teachers.
My interest in Photography started in high school with my dad’s SLR camera. This progressed into digital photography during college. I struggled to find meaning in my work during college. I loved traditional portrait painting of the great Renaissance painters, and the Impressionist era, but this form of art was not well received nor taught at my school. Contemporary and conceptual was the way to go. I dabbled in many mediums, trying lots of different styles, but nothing developed fully. By the end of my three-year bachelor’s, I had only just begun to explore the creative world of digital montages.
It wasn’t until I met my husband did I commit to really pursuing a career in the arts. His (now our) financial income had a lot to do with this! It’s difficult to find the time to work as an artist while working full time. An artist not only makes the art, but must also network, market and develop a business plan, discovering who and where their collectors are. I have taken, and continue to take, several classes that teach just this: marketing the art and creating an online presence through social media opportunities.
It’s taken several years hard work, and there are still many elements that are in need of adjusting are reworking.
Due to my husband’s job, I move around every few years, so the online network is essential to my business. It’s not possible to build up a good following and (eventually) collectors during short stints at one location.
Please tell us about your art.
Travel is the fount of my inspiration.
I paint in watercolor or oil. My paintings are inspired from my photos by the people and places I travel to and live in. I great enjoy painting portraits, and landscape scenes. Currently, I live in Tokyo, and many of my paintings are influenced by all things Japanese. Presently, I’m working more in watercolor than oil.
Born into a military family (and now married into one) I’ve been moving every few years. The longest I lived in one country was 15 years, and even then, we moved house and county a few times within those years! Every few years is a new adventure, a new language, new friends to make, festivals to enjoy. Different currency, customs, culture and religions to learn about and witness; many visual delights to absorb.
As an adult, I did more traveling. The more traveling I did, the more photos I took. I love my photos. They’re my memory of being in that place. Nobody else’s. I know thousands of people have taken photos of the Eiffel Tower, or Big Ben, but my composition and my photo is mine. No one will know how I felt at that moment, but me. And I’m reminded how I felt at that moment when I look back over my photos.
But what to do with them all? I couldn’t let them just fill up space on my hard drive. How often we take photos, store them and rarely look at them again. So, I developed and turned them into montages. Digitally manipulated and arranged photographs to create one new image. A complete sense of being in a place. One take photos, store them and rarely look at them again. So, I developed and turned them into montages. Digitally manipulated and arranged photographs to create one new image. A complete sense of being in a place. One visual scene to capture the totality of my travel experience. These montages reflect my memories: often distorted and dreamlike in their composition. Arranged jigsaw pieces expressive how it felt to be in that place, with a sense of time having had passed.
Most days, the beauty in this world is overwhelming. I can’t help but respond with gratitude to the Lord through recording all things that take my breath away. I love to explore and immerse myself in different spaces: different cultures, architecture, landscape. It’s a wonderful adventure, which I’d love to share with you.
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
I think it is still the role of the artist to comment upon the world in which we live; through our interpretation, our mind’s eye, our filters. For it is only with these prerequisites. can we share with the viewer a glimpse into our way of thinking, our response to the world we live in. It’s an intimate invite into someone else’s shoes. I do believe there is a finite balance between technical skill, which is taught and developed, and thought-provoking concept in the creative process. Sometimes it is more heavily one than the other, but both must be present.When I was younger and early on in my artistic journey, I desired to be provoking in my analogies and conceptual premises; sometimes to the point of repulsion or uncomfortable responses. But, I realized it was often solely for this purpose.
Now, I wish to combat the devastation, ugliness, brokenness, and hopelessness many news channels and current events bring us. I wish to add harmony to the discord through sharing the beauty within this world: the natural, created wonder and splendor we have been gifted with, and the relational love and unity we should strive to uphold and repair. I hope to bring visual pleasure to my viewers. Smiles light up when my work is seen. Memories are evoked and I see people take a much-needed moment to reminisce in a joy filled moment. All I do is best reflect what is already there.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My work is available for viewing and purchase via my website: www.evelyncurryart.com. Join my mailing list via my website for latest work and promotional offers
Find me and follow me on social media
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Evelyn.Portraits.Art.Photography/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/evelyncurryart/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/evelwoman84
Saatchi: www.saatchiart.com/account/profile/433652
In the local Tokyo area, I participate in Arts and Craft Fairs, and local Art and Photography shows
Contact Info:
- Address: Evelyn Curry Art Yokota Air Base
Fussa, Tokyo Japan - Website: www.evelyncurryart.com
- Phone: +81 80 4353 0787
- Email: evelyn@evelyncurryart.com
- Instagram: evelyncurryart
- Facebook: Evelyn. Portraits. Art.Photography
- Twitter: evelwoman84
Image Credit:
Evelyn Espinoza
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